text:
No. 103: Duke
By Paul Myerberg // May 11, 2012
David Cutcliffe has already had a better career at Duke than Ted Roof, Carl Franks, Barry Goldsmith and Barry Wilson, even if Goldsmith was responsible for the program's last winning season, way back in 1994. These coaches, including Cutcliffe, make up the A.S.S. era of Duke — the period After Steve Spurrier, and excuse the vulgarity. Cutcliffe has brought respectability to the Blue Devils, winning games at a better clip than each of his five predecessors, but for this program, respectability comes with an asterisk. Cutcliffe might be 15-33 over his four years with the program, averaging just shy of four wins per season, and in this day and age, that's marvelous. Is it good enough for Duke — meaning, does Duke think that another head coach might be able to do more? It's an interesting question, and one only the university can answer. From where I'm standing, however, I'd give a coach who can flirt with five wins every season a lifetime contract.
Atlantic Coast, Coastal
Durham, N.C.
Blue Devils
Returning starters
15 (7 offense, 8 defense)
Last year's ranking
No. 89
2011 record
(3-9, 1-7)
Last year's
No. 100
2012 schedule
- Sept. 1
- Sept. 8
at Stanford
- Sept. 15
N.C. Central
- Sept. 22
- Sept. 29
at Wake Forest
- Oct. 6
- Oct. 13
at Virginia Tech
- Oct. 20
North Carolina
- Oct. 27
at Florida St.
- Nov. 3
- Nov. 17
at Georgia Tech
- Nov. 24
Miami (Fla.)
Last year's prediction
The defense is not up to par, and that's why Duke is at best a borderline bowl team in 2011. The defensive line is particularly poor, though the pass rush might improve if these young ends are ready – but I don't think they are. The front seven as a whole is a tremendous question mark, even though the secondary has potential. Take that and add a tough schedule and you have the makings of a five-win team at best, in my mind. I know I thought Duke was ready last fall, but I was clearly off. Now I think we're a year away.
2011 recap
In a nutshell Duke lost to an F.C.S. team and didn't win a game after the first of October. That's the season, in a nutshell. Neither of those facts are new to this program; the Blue Devils have lost three games to Richmond since 2006 and have only one post-October win over Cutcliffe's four seasons with the program. Looking beyond the standings – Duke won only three games for the second straight year – the most disappointing aspect of last season was the steep decline on offense. The Blue Devils had increased their scoring total in each of Cutcliffe's first three seasons, including back-to-back 300-point seasons from 2009-10. That total dropped to 270 points last fall, the second-fewest in the A.C.C. – ahead of only Boston College, and beating the Eagles in anything was nothing to write home about. That the defense took a step forward was lost in the shuffle, not to mention meaningless: Duke simply didn't score enough points.
High point Duke's three wins: at Boston College, home against Tulane and at Florida International. The last qualifies as the Blue Devils' best win on the year. The Eagles were a dumpster fire last fall, though I wonder if Duke could have won that game had the two met in November, not September.
Low point Duke ran out of steam after two close-but-no-cigar home losses to Wake Forest (24-23) and Virginia Tech (14-10) to end October. That dropped Duke under .500 heading into November, and the season's final month has long been unkind to the Blue Devils.
Tidbit As late as in the 2008 season, there were four F.B.S. head coaches with direct ties to Bear Bryant, having either played for him or, in one case, served as a student assistant as an undergraduate. That number has dropped to two as we head into September: Cutcliffe and Mike Riley. The latter played defensive back at Alabama from 1971-74 while Cutcliffe, at roughly the same time, was one of Alabama's student assistants. Sylvester Croom, who played center at Alabama in the mid-1970s, was fired at Mississippi State following the 2008 season. Former Florida Atlantic head coach Howard Schnellenberger, who retired last December, played tight end under Bryant at Kentucky in the 1950s.
Tidbit (academics edition) Not that this is necessarily surprising, given the university's reputation, but Duke did lead the A.C.C. last fall with 19 players on the conference's all-academic team. And it wasn't close: Clemson and Wake Forest came in second with five selections, ahead of Georgia Tech and Maryland, which had four apiece. What was surprising? That the only school with less than two players on the all-academic team was Virginia, which has a strong academic reputation of its own.
Tidbit (November edition) Duke's lone November win under Cutcliffe came in a 55-45 victory over Virginia on Nov. 6, 2010. Overall, the program is 1-12 under Cutcliffe over the final month of the regular season, bottoming out with an 0-5 mark in 2008, his first year with the program – though North Carolina later vacated its win, if that helps. Duke is 4-39 in November since the 2000 season, with wins over Georgia Tech and Tar Heels in 2003, Clemson in 2004 and the Cavaliers two years ago.
Former players in the N.F.L.
4 S Matt Daniels (St. Louis), QB Thaddeus Lewis (Cleveland), LS Patrick Mannelly (Chicago), WR Eron Riley (New York Jets).
Arbitrary top five list
Former A.C.C. quarterbacks currently in the N.F.L.
1. Philip Rivers, N.C. State (San Diego).
2. Matt Ryan, Boston College (Atlanta).
3. Matt Schaub, Virginia (Houston).
4. Shaun Hill, Maryland (Detroit).
5. Christian Ponder, Florida State (Minnesota).
David Cutcliffe (Alabama '76), 15-33 after four seasons at Duke. He improved Duke's win total in each of his first two seasons, laying the ground work for an expected — by me, at least — return to bowl play in 2010. That didn't happen, which was disappointing, as was last fall's three-win finish. Nevertheless, it should be noted that Cutcliffe's 15 wins over four years marks the program's best stretch since Spurrier. His career mark, which includes parts of seven seasons at Ole Miss, is 59-60. Though he earned national praise for the job he did at Mississippi, Cutcliffe is most well-known for his long association with the University of Tennessee, where he spent 19 seasons as an assistant. That stretch began in 1982, when Cutcliffe started as a part-time assistant coach, and continued through 1998. After being fired from Ole Miss in 2004, health issues forced him to take one year off from coaching; he was hired to be Charlie Weis's first quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame before stepping down before the start of the season. In 2006 Cutcliffe returned to Tennessee for a two-year stint before being tabbed as Duke's next head coach. With the Volunteers, Cutcliffe spent six seasons as the tight ends coach (1983-88), a single season coaching the running backs (1989) and three as the quarterbacks coach (1990-92) before being promoted to the offensive coordinator spot, where he earned the well-deserved reputation as one of the nation's best game-planners and play-callers. At Ole Miss, Cutcliffe finished a winning record in each of his first five seasons, including a 10-win 2003 season highlighted by a SEC West co-championship and a Cotton Bowl win. Cutcliffe can coach, we know that. But it takes a special kind of coach to win at Duke.
Players to watch
One area where Sean Renfree has already improved is in his ability to avoid the shield-your-eyes sort of performances that littered his 2010 season, his first as Duke's starting quarterback. Then a sophomore, Renfree had five multiple-interception games, including four over a five-game stretch over the season's first half. It's not a stretch to say that his penchant for turnovers cost Duke more than one win: Renfree tossed three in a 54-48 loss to Wake Forest, another three in a 14-point loss to Army, five in a loss to Miami (Fla.) and a pair in a season-ending loss to North Carolina.
But steady progression was made over the second half of the 2010 season, in terms of limiting turnovers, and by and large, Renfree stayed error-free as a junior. He cut six interceptions of his 2010 total, suffering through only one multiple-turnover game — though Renfree did toss at least one pick in each of Duke's last seven losses. He'll need to continue growing as a decision-maker, cutting down further on his interceptions, but Renfree was absolutely better as a junior than as a sophomore, as expected. What can he do as a senior?
He can lead this offense back to its 2009-10 level, if not to greater heights — perhaps, if his teammates can join the party, to the program's highest point total since 1994. Earlier this month, Cutcliffe touted Renfree as an N.F.L. prospect; I don't doubt that point, even if his lack of all-conference production to this point has Renfree coming in under the radar. What Renfree has: strong accuracy, a nice rapport with his receivers, growing confidence, enviable experience and one of the best quarterback tutors in college football. All he lacks is help: Renfree is a strong college quarterback, but he can't lift Duke into bowl play on his own.
It's not so much that Duke can't run the ball as it won't, or can't afford to. Not to imply that Duke has a Virginia Tech-like running game — not even close — but Cutcliffe could stand to turn to the running game with a bit more frequency, in turn taking pressure off of Renfree. Oftentimes, however, Duke needs to throw in order to hang in games against A.C.C. competition: the Blue Devils had more than 30 carries as a team only three times during conference play. When Duke does decide to run the football, it will turn to the pairing of junior Juwan Thompson (457 yards, 4.2 yards per carry) and senior Desmond Scott (367 yards, 5.2 yards per carry), the team's leading rushers over the past two years. This offense also has a pair of quarterbacks, sophomore Anthony Boone and junior Brandon Connette, with strong running ability — though Boone took many of Connette's carries last fall.
Duke lost offensive line coach Matt Luke to Mississippi in late March, forcing Cutcliffe into his only staffing change of the offseason. Luke was replaced by former Akron offensive coordinator John Latina, who served as the Rebels' line coach under Cutcliffe from 1999-2004. Latina will take on an experienced group, not to mention Duke's deepest line of the Cutcliffe era — the Blue Devils have steadily increased depth with each passing recruiting class. Duke returns four full-time starters and another three linemen with past starting experience, including junior right tackle Perry Simmons, a starter since his freshman season. The strong side of the line, with Simmons joined by sophomore right guard Laken Tomlinson, is in fairly secure hands. Even with increased numbers and experience, the rest of the line needs some work.
The Blue Devils need to settle matters at center after using a revolving door at the position last fall. If he can remain healthy, senior Brian Moore — the former starter at right guard — can give the Blue Devils some much-needed consistency in the middle of the line: he missed nine games last fall with an arm injury, forcing the line to shuffle as a result. If Moore can remain on the field, Duke can move junior Dave Harding out to left guard and use junior John Coleman as a valuable swing reserve at both tackle and along the interior. Sophomore Takoby Cofield is a logical replacement for left tackle Kyle Hill, the lone lost starter. This line should be Duke's best, but it'll still be overmatched against the number of wonderful defensive fronts in the A.C.C. — Virginia Tech, Florida State, Clemson and the like.
Just think: It could have been worse. Duke already needs to replace nose guard Charlie Hatcher and safety Matt Daniels — the latter the nation's most under-recognized defensive back — but the Blue Devils nearly lost end Kenny Anunike, who suffered a season-ending knee injury four games into last season. Anunike landed a fifth season of eligibility from the N.C.A.A. in January, allowing him to return in 2012; he landed another hardship waiver in March, thanks to an injury suffered during his true freshman season in 2008, so Anunike will be in Durham through the 2013 season. That's wonderful news for Duke, even if Anunike needs to prove he's recovered after last season's injury, not to mention prove that he can remain injury-free.
At the time of his injury on Sept. 24, Anunike was leading the A.C.C. in sacks. Even having played in only parts of four games, he still lead the Blue Devils with 4.0 sacks; no other teammate had more than 2.0, and the team as a whole made 17.0 sacks on the year. So he's a big-time player, and the key to the whole deal for this defense in 2012. If Anunike returns to full health, he'll change the way the Blue Devils get to the quarterback. A strong pass rush will help offset this defense's many issues elsewhere, perhaps allowing Duke to make another subtle improvement after cutting more than a field goal off its 2010 scoring average a year ago.
There is no senior defensive lineman on the roster, if we count Anunike as a junior. In addition, one of Anunike's running mates at end, Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo (17 tackles), was likewise held out of spring ball due to a lingering injury. One of the positives to Anunike's injury last fall was the playing time it gave to a batch of then-freshmen, like Dewalt-Ondijo, Dezmond Johnson and Jamal Wallace, who join junior Justin Foxx and Anunike in completing Duke's top quintet at the position. The group as whole will be better in 2012, if still at least a year away from reaching their potential.
Hatcher, a three-year starter, leaves a big hole in the middle of the line. With junior Sydney Sarmiento (32 tackles, 1.5 for loss) entrenched at tackle, the Blue Devils desperately need a big, run-stuffing presence at nose guard. Even with Hatcher, Duke's run defense crumbled over the second half of last season. The Blue Devils have big bodies at their disposal in sophomores Steven Ingram, Will Bryant and Jamal Bruce, but the lack of experience is a tremendous concern. Even if Anunike makes a healthy return, it's hard not to view Duke's defensive line as the A.C.C.'s worst.
Every linebacker who made a start last fall in Duke's 4-2-5 defense returns in 2012. The group's best, Kelby Brown (65 tackles, 7.0 for loss) and Austin Gamble (43 tackles, 5.5 for loss), have shown some disruptive ability. But they're often hamstrung by a defensive line that doesn't lend much assistance against the run, and could certainly use stronger play along the interior of the line. They still produce, which reflects well on this pair. Duke also brings back sophomores C.J. France (23 tackles) and David Helton (25 tackles, 2.5 for loss), each of whom made spot starts at freshmen. There's your present and your future: Brown and Gamble may hold it down today, but France and Helton are the next in line. This isn't a great group, but the Blue Devils have some nice potential along the second level.
Daniels should be considered the finest defensive back in Duke's history, if not one of the finest defensive players in school history, if not one of the finest players in school history regardless of position. Imagine Duke's defense over the last two or three years without Daniels cleaning up mess after mess against both the run and the pass, if you dare. It's a scary premise. The line is thrown around too often, but in this case, it's true: Duke cannot replace Daniels. No way, no how. He's irreplaceable.
But one way that Cutcliffe hopes to replace Daniels' production is by moving receiver Brandon Braxton (40 receptions for 352 yards) over to safety. You don't move your second-most productive receiver — especially with that being a questionable position for the Blue Devils — over to defense without eyeballing him as a starter, so it stands to reason that Braxton will step right into a major role in the secondary. Braxton will thus join returning starters Walt Canty (87 tackles), Jordan Byas (40 tackles) and August Campbell at safety, though one player will get squeezed out of the starting lineup.
That's some nice depth, however. Campbell dealt with injury issues during the spring, perhaps giving Byas a chance to cement a starting role. Both will see the field, even if we say that Braxton is a sure starter next to Canty — the latter takes on a leadership role in this secondary and on the defense as a whole. The starting cornerbacks should be Tony Foster and Luke Cockrell, with Foster claiming a full-time role following Johnny Williams' graduation.
Position(s) to watch
Wide receivers Renfree has developed a wonderful relationship with Conner Vernon at receiver, though like his quarterback, Vernon could use some help. Vernon (70 receptions for 956 yards and 6 touchdowns) enters his senior season right on the doorstep of the A.C.C. record book: he needs 35 more catches to break former Clemson receiver Aaron Kelly's career record and another 843 yards to break Peter Warrick's record for receiving yards. Vernon and Renfree, though unheralded, might form the best quarterback-receiving pairing in the conference. But the Blue Devils are hurting for proven depth after losing Donovan Varner and tight end Cooper Helfet to graduation; there are only seven receivers on the roster altogether, though two, including Vernon, made at least 10 receptions last fall.
In a way, you have to trust in Cutcliffe's faith in his returning receivers. Why else would Duke have moved Braxton, the team's fourth-leading receiver, over to the defensive side of the ball? With Braxton now a safety, the Blue Devils will rely on sophomores Jamison Crowder (14 for 163) and Blair Holliday to take some pressure off of Vernon in the passing game. This pair constitutes one part of a fresh-faced receiver corps — outside of Vernon, of course — that includes wholly unproven targets like Nick Hill, Jack Wise, Corey Gattis and Brandon Watkins.
In addition, Duke signed a pair of true freshmen in February who might be able to squeeze into the rotation. Only Vernon saves this group from being a disaster. Even with one of the most prolific passers in A.C.C. history, this is one of the weakest receiver corps in the conference. You wish Renfree had a bit more at this disposal.
Game(s) to watch
Duke needs to win games in September, because few teams will face a tougher slate over the year's final two months. September's schedule includes a Sun Belt team – one Duke beat a year ago – a team from the F.C.S. and Memphis. Each of Duke's last eight opponents won at least six games last fall; five of the eight won at least eight games; and two, Virginia Tech and Clemson, met last December for the A.C.C. championship.
Tidbit (U.N.C. edition) Duke has not met rival U.N.C. in October since World War II. The two played twice in 1943 – Duke won both games – presumably due to the fact that Virginia Tech disbanded its football program during the war years. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels have played at some point between Nov. 7 and Nov. 27 in each season since. Not so in 2012: Duke and U.N.C. meet on Oct. 20, in the seventh game of the regular season.
Season breakdown & prediction
In a nutshell The bowl-less streak continues if Duke doesn't beat Florida International in the season opener. The run of three-win seasons continues if the Blue Devils don't have three wins by the end of September. The program's first double-digit loss season since Ted Roof is in play if, somehow, Duke loses to both F.I.U. and Memphis before turning to A.C.C. play. The lack of optimism is largely due to a factor outside of the Blue Devils' control: the conference schedule. Simply put, Duke will be lucky to win two games in A.C.C. action. Each of the eight teams in conference play reached bowl eligibility last fall; even if two, U.N.C. and Miami, take a step back, this is still a whale of a gauntlet for Duke to face, especially with the team's own issues. If the schedule alone isn't enough cause for a pessimistic outlook, the Blue Devils do have concerns of their own to address. Begin with a dearth of options in the passing game beyond Vernon — who's terrific, but not good enough to do it on his own. Continue with the annual lack of a running game, and continue with a deeper yet still unproven offensive line. The defense continues to improve after bottoming out in 2010, yet remains far removed from the middle of the A.C.C., let alone the league's best. Three things we can say with almost certainty: Duke isn't winning a game on the road; Duke isn't winning a game in November; and there are only three games on this schedule — F.I.U., N.C. Central and Memphis — where you can say that Duke should either be favored or have a good chance at victory. Cutcliffe may get this team to four wins, which would be great, but the Blue Devils remains entrenched at or near the bottom of the A.C.C. — again.
Dream season Not only does Duke start strong, winning five of its first six, but it also beats U.N.C. in October and Georgia Tech and Miami (Fla.) in November. Eight wins, a program-best since 1994.
Nightmare season At the least the Blue Devils dispatch their F.C.S. opponent, unlike last year. And they beat Memphis. But that's all.
In case you were wondering
Where do Duke fans congregate? There are a number of options out there to talk to Duke sports, though more than a few are focused mainly on the university's basketball team. Still, if you're interested, check out Duke Report, Devils Illustrated and The Devils Den. As always, drop a comment with any blogs, message boards and local beat reporters that I may have missed.
Duke's all-name nominee QB Mackenzie Sovereign.
Word Count
Through 22 teams 73,068.
Up Next
Who is No. 102? Tomorrow's university is one of two in its home city, joining a school with one of the nation's most dominant gymnastics programs.
Tags: A.C.C., Austin Gamble, Brandon Braxton, Brandon Moore, Conner Vernon, David Cutcliffe, Desmond Scott, Duke, Jamison Crowder, Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, Juwan Thompson, Kelby Brown, Kenny Anunike, North Carolina, Sean Renfree, Takoby Cofield, Walt Canty
Eastern Michigan, which shares Ann Arbor with gymnastics power Michigan? I suppose you could call Ypsilanti a suburb.
North Texas — Texas Woman's University gymnastics
Sna Jose State is my best guess (the gymnastics powerhouse being Stanford).
Gymnastics has the big four. Georgia, Alabama, UCLA and Utah, who have won all the national titles in the sport. But Cal is the only school I can come up with that fits the criteria. They can't have fallen this far have they?
Brutal, Paul!!
Did you really mean to put a UNC player running the ball against Duke for the Duke preview picture?
Tyrod Taylor is backup qb for the Ravens…
Oh, nevermind, that was a top 5 list… Yeah, I guess that's right. My bad. Although I'd put Schaub above Ryan (IMO)
Sorta sucks for Duke that they play in the Coastal and not the Atlantic. If they were in the Atlantic, they could definitely compete with the likes of Maryland, Boston College, and Wake Forest for league wins; then, beat FIU, NC Central, and Memphis and you have your bowl eligibility. However, in the Coastal, its tough and unlikely for Duke to get to six. They draw Florida State and Clemson as rotating crossovers. That's a horrible "luck of the draw."
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subset: commoncrawl


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Mark Stevens vs. Warren Buffet?Monday, January 29th, 2007 by Mark | Posted in Advertising, Business, Management, Marketing, Small Business, Unconventional Thinking | Comments
Clear Channel approves the copy, we have a contract, the boards go up on two major roads leading into Manhattan, people frustrated with their current marketing love them and they write and call and ask to meet and talk. Every day. In big numbers.
And then last Wednesday a call comes through from a guy pretending to be a potential client. When we talk, he says he is a senior executive with Net Jets, a holding of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway. He is irate! His 6 year old daughter saw the board and the word "sucks" is going to poison his daughter. He needs to call in an exorcist. Bottom line: he demands I take the board down or I "will feel the full wrath of the Berkshire Hathaway empire." I told him to get a life and the call is over. Case closed. Or so I thought.
Yesterday, two days after the call, I passed the board with a colleague in my firm, Linda Parry. To our shock, our sign had been covered over and the board was black. When Linda called the Clear Channel rep who sold MSCO the space. He advised that someone in the Mayor's Office in the town of New Rochelle had a complaint or complaints about the board, called Clear Channel, and without a single word with me, ripped the damn thing down. Censorship hits New York? Singapore on the Hudson? The new Beijing? What the hell?
Another Clear Channel board still carries the www.YourMarketingSucks.com message and the company sold MSCO a third for February. So why go to dark on one? Is this the one a Berkshire minion saw and decided to use the company's clout to destroy? I have no proof, but I have radar and this smells bad! A corporate giant flicks its pinky ring and the first amendment is tossed in the gutter?
Not so fast. This one's just starting. Stay tuned.
Mark Stevens
Here is what the Westchester Journal News wrote about this incident.
Your turn to sound off!
What do you think about this?
Has anything like this ever happened to you?
What would you do if you were in my shoes?
What would you do if you were in Clear Channel's shoes?


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Forum? But I don't think Maria drinks.
This woman has great arm pits Thor.
But seriously, nothing on the home front yet.
It could take awhile.
Just keep flexing that new muscle you told me about.
And keep practicing HARD with your Hammer.
Thor the signal will never ever be on this site.
This is just one of my other daily places of beauty.
Maria is a mutant Thor. A mirror.
One of her abilities is to send beauty.
Um No I haven't gotten anything from her yet.
Luckily I'm not THAT ugly.
I just need help like everybody else.
Obviously Maria needs absolutely positively NO HELP in the beauty department.
No no Thor, she can't make it. She's way too busy.
Trust me I know.
I was pulling HARD for her to come but the powers that be said absolutely not.
She wouldn't make time for likes of us anyway.
The closest thing we have to Russian is big Jean.
Maria isn't into muscles and long hair.
if you don't believe me just look at that joker, Novak.
They hang out ALL THE TIME.
God knows what games they are really playing behind the scenes.
Its funny he's right there and she didn't send him any beauty either.
Now Anna Kournikova well thats a different story all together, Thor.
But I don't think Maria had to send her any beauty.
I think they just come from the same place.
Oh brother, so anyway enough about Maria and Anna.
For now just come to this site and check for more updates.
I'm here everyday but won't necessarily post.
So you don't have to come here everyday like you do at Beyonce's site.
As soon as CC sends me the signal I'll give you the next set of instructions.
Everything you need to know except the signal will be on this site WRITE here.
Don't respond to anything because you won't know what is an authentic signal and what isn't.
And don't look for Jean either-we have the same arrangement but at another WTA site.
So I'll speak to you soon.
Things are progressing. Just slowly. We just have to wait.
I'm posting this again just in case you did not get it the first time...
Thor, I'm posting here because there is nobody here/hear/reading.
Listen carefully. This is the plan.
We all go by black SUV. Six of them. Heavy. Tinted.
I want to run single file on one lane roads.
Side by side on two lane roads.
And take up all three lanes on the expressway.
We drive side by side doing the speed limit all the way down.
Nobody passes us. No worries.
We stop at rest areas, gas stations, and some area malls along the way to get some face time with anybody who wants some.
We make every town we stop in, ours.
Have you figured out who number five is yet?
Its not the mystery guest, thats number six.
That person is coming just for you and you only.
Don't worry about me, I'm covered.
Don't forget Thor this is MY SHOW.
Speak again later, Spock out.
Hey Thor!
if you had the chance would you do her in Doha?
I know. I know.
"We are all professionals here."
I swear Jean preaches that to everybody.
I was just wanted to know more about what you were just thinking about Maria.
I won't tell. Your secret is safe with me.
Its a shame that she doesn't want to come with us.
Well I gotta go now. Work work work.
Say hi to everybody for me (Liam) in Asgard.
(Whispering) Later Thor. Later.
You think you have it bad? "Action!", "Quiet on the set.."
You should see what happens to number 3 in the world-Maria Sharapova.
All she ever hears is "Practice".
But how do you do that when someone won't leave the court when their time is up?
Maria is punctual. Polite. Known as a players player on and off the court.
So why take away her precious practice time?
Right now she needs all the practice she can get.
And that my friend is our job. You, me, Christian, and Jean.
We, as a team, will help Maria unwind so that she can play better.
I personally would like to see Maria open up her serve a little bit more.
Take more chances and go for more winners.
Every time I come here I laugh because all of the pictures of her here-
have her holding her HEAD bag.
its like her new team logo or something.
She changed racquets you know. She went from using a PRINCE Super sized
to a Super HEAD racquet.
If she doesn't start winning soon she may have to switch back to a Wilson.
Her racquet is as important to her as your Hammer is to you, Thor.
So after a long season we need to be ready when the time is right.
Once again, don't respond to any thing you might think is the signal.
I'll let you know. Leave it all to me. They are coming.
its too bad big bad Liam can't come with us because we could use all the help that we can get.
We will be completely overwhelmed and outnumbered.
So much so that I am looking for two more volunteers as we speak.
Ok. I am going to leave it at that for now.
So for now go back to your usual search routine-Beyonce, Taylor, Zoe, Britney, Katy, etc.
And no man. In response to your email. Like I said before Zoe still can't make it.
if that happens to change I'll let you know. But if you must know I got HB.
She's coming but no offense she wasn't invited to meet you. Jean.
He's a good looking guy too you know. He's your friendly competition.
I know. Me too. No she doesn't have sister.
But I'll ask around about Zoe. I promise.
Ok. I gotta go. Keep checking for updates.
Disregard anything on this site, under this topic, that doesn't start with your name.
And don't forget to watch the Oscars-Anne hopefully will continue to make us all feel miserable
and win again.
Sorry. No can do.
She was one of the top names on my list too.
Married life does have its advantages. I envy.
So look. Hang out. We will speak again soon.
I'm watching "The Avengers" for the millionth time.
Your battle versus The Hulk is epic but my favorite scene is in the beginning
of the movie when Gwyneth Paltrow is in denim shorts talking to Iron Man
and she says to the guy from S.H.I.E.L.D., "Phil, come in."
No. Its not a fantasy. I'm not interested in her at all.
She's is just one of my favorite actresses and this was her only scene in the movie.
I wonder why there aren't more females starring in these movies.
HB turned the trick in Cat Woman.
How about someone doing the same as Wonder Woman?
Like for example, why not our girl Maria. Maria Sharapova.
And I bet she can act too.
I'm going to write Stan Lee and tell him to write a script for Maria.
You know, create a character for her.
She could wield her racquet like you do your Hammer.
Or better yet, just use her beauty.
Have the bad guys just give in.
One look and they freeze. You know they turn to ice or some thing.
What do you think?
I know. I know. It needs work.
And I have no idea what her oversized tennis racquet or her loud grunting would do.
Maybe the grunting could be a weakness, you know like a chink in the armor.
Maybe not.
Ok Ok. Back to the drawing board.
But thanks for clearing this up for me anyway.
I'll speak to you soon. Later man. Later.
This is absolutely positively my favorite sight to log in and out of.
Oh brother. What a racquet!
They are doing construction across the hall so I hear hammering ALL DAY LONG NON STOP.
I finally have some good news to tell you.
I told you that I was only going to get the best of the best.
Well here it is-
A big named actor-we'll call "Bradley" responded to my invitation-
and is willing to take time out of his busy BUSY schedule to join us!
Also coming is one of my other favorite Marvel super heroes-The Wolverine himself-"Huge Hugh" is coming!
He's our clean up hitter in a lineup full of all-star talent.
THEY don't stand a chance against us now. Were going to win it all and "eat hearty".
So so far we have The Batman, Jean, Yourself, The Wolverine, Big Bradley, and Me.
And don't forget the very special SPECIAL mystery guest that is coming to meet you and you only.
Thats US. Now on to THEM.
I heard back from two different groups-both are interested and both want to come.
I'm still trying to work out an additional stop in Washington.
There we can all get some face time with our president erect Barrack Obama.
I'm hoping that he and his wife will join us for breakfast.
Me neither, but how do you tell the president AND his wife "not now but maybe later".
And to answer your question in regards to our gracious host-
the one and only, tennis sensation, superstar, and avid runner Maria Sharapova.
I have gotten absolutely no response, no indication, to any of the above or below.
I do know that she is training hard. Determined. Focused on the task at hand.
I don't want to bother Maria with such an outlandishly ridiculous request.
I know. My Hammer is disappointed too but there is still time to eventually hear from her.
But don't fret because I have an "Out of Sight" "Back Up Plan" in place just in case she says this isn't for her.
One thing we could do is go there and meat some of the other players instead.
And yes Thor I will look into "her". And no I don't know if she is married or not.
Yes. Maria is married but the others are so hard to read.
I'm just not sure-its so hard to tell now a days.
So Thor I gotta go now. Don't respond. Just hang out. Practice.
As soon as I know you'll know.
Get some rest partner-your gonna need it!
Later bro.
Its Oscar night Thor are you ready?
Our girl Anne is gonna hit the red carpet in no time.
I've got my people all set up waiting for a glimpse of the Academy Award nominee.
She's obviously not Natalie Portman but she'll have to do.
Only joking Thor, put the Hammer down, we mortals need a place to go in dark times
and Anne provides that light, that safe way home. Her journey is our own.
More on US.
Another big BIG name has joined our team.
"The Butler" has RSVP'd and accepted my glorious invitation.
He makes our Magnificent Seven look more like 300.
This is like Maria winning a slam with only double bagels,
we never lose a set, we never drop our serve, and we break our opponent again and again and again.
We Dominate.
I've got some stuff to do so I gotta run.
I just wanted to give you the good news.
No Thor, he is NOT the mystery guest-thats not funny-get serious will you!
I've put a lot into this-spared no expense-invested time-researched these men. My men. My crew.
And as one of my men you need to get it together-practice with your Hammer.
I need the God, not the boy.
Make us one of your own and be willing to go into battle with us. Bond with us.
I'm expecting a hundred. More if word gets out.
We'll need all the muscles, all the flexing, all the hair, all of our unique talents to our disposal.
I want you up front with Jean and The Butler.
Then the mighty Batman and the animal that is the Wolverine.
Me and BIG Bradley will watch the other end, our back side, just in case of a sneak attack.
Our circle will never bend. We will never break. We'll stand together side by side.
And look it all in the face with dare I say it-dignity.
Now get back to work-wield that mighty Hammer-and practice HARD for the upcoming battle.
I'll be back with more updates.
As for now duck, its going to get a little bumpy around here.
PS: That means you to Maria...
"Maria is something beautiful inside something else that happens to be beautiful too."
Maria, you've been officially "meat tagged".
Its nothing to worry about-just take it in stride.
I tagged Jenny Aniston, JLo, Heidi, Charlize, Paris, and Britney too.
They all laughed and told me to go to Hell.
I told them I can't because Hell doesn't take visa...
Morning Maria, another Valentine's Day came and went.
Writing to you on my I-Touch gets me through such days.
I used to write to a mutual friend but she stopped responding due to privacy issues.
Its too bad because I miss the feedback.
Just writing or reading with no response from others leaves me feeling cold.
I learn from writing and listening to others much more than writing or reading to myself.
However I regret not listening to myself more.
So anyway I write many many women, not just you.
You don't have to respond if you don't want to.
I'm not pushing up on you because I'm way too much of a push over.
You looked great last night by the way. You stole the show.
Seeing you looking so beautiful is such a welcomed departure from seeing you do your regular routine all the time.
You have so many different aspects to your personality and this is the part that we hardly ever get a chance to see.
I for one want to see much much more.
And that doesn't just include the glamour side but also the day to day side too.
Bad days build character and I bet you've had a million.
Forgive me. I'm so not used to sharing my ideas so openly.
As you can see I'm not from around here. I'm not a sports person or a tennis pro.
I'm still trying to find out who I am and if there is anyone else like me on this planet.
Hopefully one day that other martian, the one that I have been searching for-
will land her ship, find nothing out of the ordinary and take me away with her.
I don't think anyone would miss me. Would you find the time to miss me?
Or would your love for this game continue to be your favorite distraction.
That place that you can always go to when something is bothering you.
That safe haven that you run to to hide your true feelings when love happens
and then suddenly doesn't...
I wish I had a place to go to like that.
Forgive me, I don't mean to pry. And no I don't mince words.
I just figure why go to the trouble of posting something, and not say anything.
I know you probably think that I am high strung, insecure, and a bad bad writer.
And I apologize for all of that.
Maybe I've even said way too much again.
Sometimes you run into someone and you think to yourself what are they thinking.
Its not about what they do or anything like that, but its more about who they are. Inside.
I saw you and I wanted to know immediately what was inside.
Forgive me. What can I say, your youthful exuberance inspires me.
But certainly not enough for me to worship the court you walk on.
You don't need me for that anyway, you have more than enough of those.
If I did that you would be disappointed. Luckily I'm not good at it.
Bye Maria. Bye.
Just enjoying some butter pecan ice cream.
Um so anyway, I was wondering..
Where can I get "Sugarpova" in my area?
Its funny I thought it was a sweetener.
You know a sugar alternative like Equal or Splenda.
You know how it is.
There is always something else going on.
Its funny this time I can't tell.
Okay um, no problem. I'll try one-last-time.
For some reason I'm getting mixed signals. Weird.
Maybe its the ICE CREAM, lol.
Or maybe I'm just getting Lucky.
Its me. Its late and I couldn't sleep.
I was thinking about you. Don't worry its almost over. Me.
Um, its about your decision to keep playing.
To not quit your career and become a beautiful wife and a loving mother.
After thinking about it LONG and HARD-I have come to the conclusion that you made the right decision.
He was asking way way too much of you.
Your career was blossoming. Stardom.
You were on the verge of becoming number one.
The timing of this discussion was totally unnecessary.
To suddenly stop training to start a family would have been an error in judgement.
You competitive nature would have regretted it later.
Watching lesser players win while your window of opportunity closed. Terrible.
He was being irrational.
There was more than enough time to fulfill any promises you may have made to him.
He just didn't want to wait. He gave you no choice.
Um, I know you loved him.
And I know you still love him.
But the cost was much too high. The sacrifice way too great.
With everything that you've become and continue to become, love waits.
With all the applause, the plaques, the celebrity-you don't have the one thing that you need the most.
True. Family is enough.
And for awhile you can get away with playing that role.
Select friends to fill that void in your life.
Safeguard all of your timeshares.
Be wiling to go on yet another blind date-knowing full well that this just isn't for you...
You can continue to watch others. Listen and learn from their mistakes.
Not give someone new a chance.
Or you can woman-up and be with whomever it is you want to be with.
Your Maria Sharapova, Darling.
The world will love you no matter who you choose.
All I'm saying is is that its time to choose...
Good. So get back to me with some kind of response.
I'm curious to know who the lucky person is.
Yes. I am envious but I also know my place.
There is something romantic about telling a superstar athlete "no"
when everybody in the world says "yes yes yes" to anything and everything she does.
Thank you Maria. You've inspired me to write a memoir.
I think I'll call it, "Maria my beloved, no thank you..."
Many more updates to follow.
And that is exactly what it sounds like.
Well would you look at that-she gives us one new picture per day, Thor.
I guess thats something to look forward to isn't it.
No wonder you spend so much more time on Bey's sight.
As for me. Yawn. One is enough. I'm taking the guided tour.
So anyway-it appears that Jen is going to actually go through with it.
Agreed. Yuck with a capital WHY.
And to think she doesn't want your name either.
He must be doing something write.
So I guess she isn't coming.
I know. I feel used too.
Its the hair Thor. It sucks you in. It charms you.
And then she has you exactly where she wants you-
marrying someone else.
Trust me I know all the symptoms-heartbreak and pre-ejaculation are soon to follow.
No there is no cure-you just have to live with it.
Don't worry if it all goes according to plan she'll be divorcing him next week.
Then you and I can get another crack at it.
I'll keep you posted and don't forget Thor.
"There is another..."
Hi Maria!
Your face book album is great.
I go there daily. I don't post or anything.
I don't advertise.
It made me think about what great lengths I would go to just to talk to a girl.
True story-
Once a upon a time there was this girl.
Lets call her Gina.
Italian. Femme. Pretty and funny.
At the time I was dating her best friend.
Lets call her Megan. Also very pretty and funny.
We would go to the movies, hang out, find a greasy spoon to eat at, whatever.
So anyway, I couldn't keep my eyes off of Gina.
I liked her so much that at night we would chat on the phone about other guys that she liked.
I even threw my voice to sound like one of them.
I was willing to be someone else for her.
She laughed. It was done for fun.
But she didn't get it. They never do.
When you like someone and you want them to like you back.
You have to go far far away from who you really are.
No matter how foolish you may look-you take a chance and risk something for them.
I'm sure they are both married by now.
I never let on.
Instead I do what I always do when I like a girl a lot.
I say the wrong thing.
And usually thats the last thing that they remember.
They don't remember what I was willing to do to be anything they wanted me to be.
The girl I was dating, Megan.
Was a beautiful beautiful person in her own right.
I liked her. I didn't take her for granted. I got lucky.
They were best friends.
There was no way I was going to interfere with their friendship.
Eventually Megan and I broke up for other reasons that I can't remember.
So I called Gina. In fact I called every day.
Nothing special. She would laugh and laugh.
Not knowing that I was madly in love with her.
I never told either one of them.
It was my problem. My secret.
So anyway Maria. Beautiful Maria.
You will never know.
And like so many others before you.
I will never ever tell.
Long time no see. I thought about you today.
Nothing major. Just dancing.
Do you dance? With clothes on I mean...
I would like to see you dance on the court after a win, you know like big Petko.
I like watching her dance after she wins-the WTA should allow it.
Its shows personality. Essence. Creativity. Hips.
I dance but not very well.
LOL you can only imagine. Utterly ridiculous. Too write feet.
But regardless of my lack of rhythm, I still pretend to dance with you.
But most of the time I pretend to dance with Courteney Cox and Jennifer Lopez instead.
With BIG Courteney its always in a HUGE gymnasium after prom.
There are empty chairs, confetti, and streamers scattered all over the floor.
The overhead lights are off and the janitor is sweeping up.
We are the last pair. There is no music on.
I can only hear the broom sweeping back and forth...back and forth.
Holding CC is like listening to your favorite song.
It sounds so good that you want to hear it again and again.
Jennifer and I usually dance to much faster songs in front of many many people.
She's a natural. Exotic. Advanced. A much better dancer than me.
But she's so good that it doesn't matter what I'm doing.
She keeps me involved anyway.
She masks all of my imperfections as a dancer.
Both women do this for me. They bring out my soul.
They let me be me...
You and I however never ever dance together.
Maybe one day if your feeling up to it.
Fitness is everything you know.
It wouldn't have to be anything romantic because-
I wouldn't want to do something that I enjoy doing so much, with someone that I enjoy so much.
I mean what if you decided to leave and go dance with BIG Roger Federer instead.
When JLo and CC were too tired-dancing would feel cold, alone, and empty.
Nothing like you at all.
Um, I dig your philosophy-"Strong is Beautiful"
You should write a self help book.
Break it down for women everywhere.
You know, tell them that they don't have to be afraid to show some muscle.
Show them how to get there to better their lives.
Show them who you are.
And not just about "girl power", but about becoming more powerful.
This is one of the things that people like about you.
Well, I better go now. Duty calls.
Save me a dance will you?
Oh yeah, nice sneakers two.
Good news.
It took some doing but I finally got what I wanted.
A sure fire no doughter to help us.
Daniel Craig has agreed to join our team.
But he won't be coming alone.
His wife Rachel Weisz is coming too! (sorry if I spelled her last name wrong)
She said she wouldn't get in the way.
She just wants to watch it all unfold.
I told her to do this thing right it would take many many days and that her 007
would be a major player in seeing that the job was done right.
She seemed okay with all of it including all of the nudity.
I have to admit I was impressed with her attitude.
She knows whats at stake and wants to be a full participant.
Again, how could I say no?
I also got a chance to see your brother Liam in action.
I finally saw "Hunger Games".
Good movie but would have preferred to see Liam get picked to fight in the games.
The chicks dig him so why not have him be chosen.
Watching certain parts of the movie and knowing Liam character was just watching along with us
was like watching a coach benching a star player at the beginning of the game.
Hopefully next time Thor's brother will get a meatier role to play,
his talent and his sexy were completely wasted here.
Jennifer Lawrence on the other hand was fantastic.
Liam and Jennifer look very good together. No disrespect to Miley Cyrus of course.
As for you Thor don't respond.
Don't look under your mattress. Don't look into anything.
Don't believe what you are reading or seeing.
Let me be your guide.
As soon as I know you will know too.
Our girl was fortunate enough to get a bye in the first round at Indian Wells.
Hopefully she'll have a little something extra later on to win this sucker.
Some of the other big guns sat out on this one so Maria has as good a chance as anyone to win here again.
So Thor lets pull for her-together.
Good. So I'll continue to keep you posted. More updates will follow.
Keep practicing and grow that hair.
So I went to the tanning spa again today.
Driving there I was listening to princess Diana's tribute album.
You know the one where every superstar in music collaborated to make a record after her senseless death.
So anyway the album has a song on it called "Maria" by Placido Domingo and Michael Bolton.
Its a beautiful beautiful piece.
It says wonderful you. Beautiful you.
Its much more uplifting to think about you, than to think about what happened to poor Diana.
One more thing...
And no I don't sit around all day thinking about how to improve Maria.
I think your site would benefit from having more business related links.
Your in such demand now.
And not only corporate America but the World is watching.
Why not benefit from all that attention.
It was just a thought.
Maria, you can keep trying to be like everybody else if you want to
but the casual observer knows that you are a stranger on this planet.
A beautiful alien waiting for her ride back home.
An alien that decided in her spare time to become a Russian tennis superstar.
Thats the difference between us.
You know that they are coming for you eventually.
While I am still waiting here hoping to hear back from them...
Afternoon Maria.
I'm at Bella's having pancakes and sausage at two forty one in the afternoon.
Its quietly quieter here. Thank God.
Usually you have to wait in line twenty minutes just to get a table.
Way back when my girlfriends and I would go out dancing on Saturday night.
Afterwards eat late late late, say good bye to friends, and walk in the door at like three in the morning.
Talk, go to bed, and then quietly talk some more.
The next morning wake up at like eleven.
Talk, order in even more take out, and you guessed it-wolf down even more pancakes LOL.
Things have changed a lot since then.
I am not nearly that ambitious any more.
Now I get up at first light. Five in the morning. Insane.
You know the old saying the early bird gets blah blah blah.
Well put it this way its a lot lore than just a worm LOL.
Forgive me, I wish I was funnier, so anyway..
Exercise. Stretch. A light swift breakfast.
Then maybe take in a museum or a last minute art exhibit.
You need tickets for anything worthwhile these days,
but the Moma almost always has something interesting happening.
And if not there, Soho is chock full of couture, culture, and coffee.
What about you Maria?
Do you remember what it was all like?
That moment that you wanted someone to be there and they weren't.
When everything and anybody around you didn't mean anything to you
without him being there.
The boy that made your head spin, your heart race, and your friends strangers.
It must be so hard for you to find the one that you like that is willing to wait.
But on the other hand any guy who doesn't wait for you isn't worth waiting for either.
As for me. I'm just not ready yet.
I'm still trying to get over big Jennifer.
I thought we had an understanding. A contract. A promise.
An agreement not to see other people.
Especially anyone with the name Casper or Justin!
Well she seems to be in a happier place now.
Maria, my friend, isn't it time for you to join them two?
Bye girl. And good luck.
Thank God I woke up.
I just dreamt that we got married.
I know I know I'll load both guns and we'll count to three.
We'll stand face to face, you shoot me and I'll shoot you.
It was crazy all kinds of people at the wedding. Hundreds.
I couldn't believe it! Novak was just giving you away to the highest bidder!?!
When he said "Going once, going twice" and Henry Kissinger would have won the auction.
I had to bid. I had to rescue you.
Luckily you ran write to me.
You were wearing all white but for some reason you were very very sweaty.
So anyway, everybody was there.
They separated us.
Groom on one side. Bride on the other.
You were calling out to me but I couldn't see you.
All I could see was a sea of Novaks.
Next to me. Standing very very close to me was your Rafa.
He kept offering me a bottle of Evian over and over again.
Then he starting rambling about all kinds of other players on the tour.
About their personal lives and such. Unspeakable.
I had to get away from him so I started running.
He chased me from tennis court to tennis court completely NAKED.
I figured if I just followed your grunting I would eventually find you.
After losing Rafa in a cave. I tripped over Venus on the way out.
She was wearing all black and feeding the squirrels.
It was a strange sensation all I could here was the ocean in the background.
She looked at me long and hard.
Then she smiled and unrolled a neon colored white three dimensional map.
You were on the map. Naked and grunting loudly.
Behind you, in the background, I could see Roger laughing and grinning from ear to ear.
Then as if he was looking at me, shook his finger back and forth as if to say "It ain't gonna happen"
Then the 3D map suddenly panned right and I saw Henry in a tux.
Venus turned to me and said-
"You know what you must do and you know who you must tell.."
Thats when I woke up.
More good news. Sit down.
I want to get the job done so I enlisted more men.
Big time stud Rob Lowe has signed on and will join our motley crue.
He is mans man and every woman's dream.
He won't be coming alone he will bring with him three other young guns to help us.
Fellow actors Scott Speedman, Josh Hartnett, and Eric Mabius.
With word getting out I had no choice but to get reinforcements.
Its tricky. You want the supply to meat the demand. Never surrender.
And I got your message..
No. Nothing yet from Maria, Caroline, or Venus.
Serena however said she doesn't EVER want to come.
And newbie Victoria says the other players in the WTA have much MUCH better things to do with their time.
I swear you become number one and you forget all about the...
Well none of us is little so i'll say "extremely happy" people.
So Thor get ready. Bulk up. Keep practicing. Hammer.
And yes I will honor your request, I'll make sure there is tons and tons of smartwater in your limo.
You'll be in SUV number three right behind Jean and before The Wolverine, then the Butler, and finally me.
We will all follow our leader, the Batman.
Rob Lowe and company will meet us there.
I'm still waiting to hear from anyone else that I have not mentioned here including-Blair Underwood and Big Bradley.
I'll let you know if they still carry big sticks.
As usual don't respond or read into anything, anywhere, or anybody.
I will be your guide.
No Blair is not the mystery guest.
This person will be shrouded in secrecy until you step into your own personal SUV.
Its a great way to Bond, who by the way will also meet us there with his beautiful beautiful wife Rachel.
I'm bringing someone along with me to.
But I'm still trying to decide which one.
Thor it doesn't look like Zoe is going to make it. But I'll keep trying.
Say hi to Asgard for me. More updates to follow.
Hi. Its me. I just got in. Fabulous.
I just ran into someone I haven't seen in like a billion eons.
Its great to see them and all but sometimes bumping into someone can just be awkward.
They haven't seen you so you've changed.
And they even say it to you in a way, as if your not from where they are from anymore.
Furthermore they say it like your the one with some sort of problem.
They jokingly make you feel guilty for not being around.
Then they give you the business about your new friends or whatever.
I know you can relate.
I'm sure there were many many people saying-
"Maria doesn't live here (Russia) anymore, she's American now, why is she carrying our flag at the Olympics?"
I'm not a superstar athlete or an hot elite model or anything but the same rules still apply.
In the end it all goes back to who you are and who they aren't.
And not being the person they wanted you to be.
I just wanted you to know that there is no reason for you to feel guilty about anything.
As far as I'm concerned Russia never looked as beautiful as it did on opening night. Ever.
No. No. No need to thank me. I'm not an autograph person.
I'm just a traveler on the road...
The other ghost, Casper Van Dien is coming.
Since I haven't heard from BIG Bradley Cooper I had to bring in someone else.
Casper has all the tools, Thor. He has what it takes.
He'll make for a excellent addition to our team especially for the capture the flag.
Once again Amigo, this is our group so far..
The Batman (our captain)
The Wolverine
300 aka The Butler
Big Rob Lowe
Josh Hartnett
Eric Mabius
Casper Van Dien
and last but certainly not least Me.
I am still waiting to hear back from:
Bradley Cooper, Blair Underwood, Tiger Woods, Chris Pike, and Aaron Eckhardt.
I also want to add someone Spanish and someone Chinese.
Eventually I want twenty heart throbs in all.
We take THEM all on together.


text:
Video: Question of porch pot back before Denver council
DENVER - The Denver City Council voted to allow people to smoke pot on private property Monday afternoon.
The question of whether local residents would be able to smoke marijuana on their front porches, in their front yards or anywhere else on their properties was called into question.
On Nov. 25, the council make it illegal to consume marijuana on private residential property if observable from a public street, highway or sidewalk; and on private non-residential property if observable from a public place.
The bill deletes the entire subsection allowing for outdoor consumption of marijuana on private residential property by homeowners and tenants and their guests.
However, on Dec. 2, the bill was amended to make it legal to consume marijuana "publicly" on private residential property by the owner or renter of the property or by anyone with permission by the owner or renter. This amendment negates the amendment to CB13-0736 approved on Nov. 25, restoring the original language of the bill as filed.
It was reversed due to the impractical enforcement of this bill and the lack of resources to do so.
The council will make a final vote on Monday solidifying the language on the marijuana bill.
Ahead of the Monday evening meeting, the council will meet as a committee to take up other proposed city laws on marijuana.
Among those are ordinances that would ban open consumption or display of marijuana within 1000 feet of schools, and the decriminalization of possession by minors under the legal age of 21.
Possession by minors would remain a civil infraction, punishable by fines ranging from $150 to $999 depending on the number of prior offenses.
The council will also consult with the city attorney on a proposal to cap the number of homegrown marijuana plants at 12 per private residence.
Marijuana advocates contend that such a restriction would violate the state constitution in homes where more than two adults reside.
Amendment 64, which voters approved to legalize recreational marijuana, specifically allows each adult the right to grow up to six plants (only three of which may be mature and flowering) for their own use.
(KUSA-TV © 2013 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)


text:
Pedro Martinez Talks Snowmobiles, Charlie Manuel, and How He Misses the Phillies
Aug 5, 2010, 2:45 PM EDT
We had the opportunity to sit down with former Phillies pitcher and general baseball legend Pedro Martinez today in New York City to talk about where he's at in his career and how he feels about the Phillies organization. It was a wide ranging conversation that touched on many aspects of his career but certainly centered on his time with the Phils last season. We'll have a full write up of our chat with Pedro, but thought you'd enjoy this teaser video, perhaps our favorite moment from the conversation. [video below]
In the below video, I asked Pedro about something he said last fall when he was scheduled to pitch game 3 out in snowy Colorado for the NLDS. You may notice in my question I said he pitched out there, but Charlie actually opted to go with JA Happ after a postponement.
I also showed him a photo on my iPhone.
Look for much more of our chat with Pedro shortly.
Props on the snowmobile Photoshop work to digi.
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- DeSean Jackson releases statement, denies any gang ties
- Swaggy uPdates: Nick Young gets in a hold-me-back fight, has sneakers stolen, and celebrates a missed 3
- Watch: The most Nick Young shot attempt in the history of Nick Young shot attempts
- Happy Black Friday: Evan Turner will pay you $500 for a $229 TV
- St. Joe's Ron Roberts is in the dunk contest tonight; we collected his most awesome YouTube clips
- Just 6 days to kickoff: Video to get ready for Union opener, some "kit" talk, and #USMNT shirts
- Maurice Edu has yet to play in Philly, yet he's already cooler (and nerdier) than you #throughglass
- Man hits ridiculous halfcourt shot during West Chester U. halftime contest, but won't get his $10,000
- This outlandish Penn State-themed Christmas light display is going to cost a lot of money


text:
I have a bunch of double entry contacts on my iphone, i wish to remove them all off my iphone so i can just do a clean resync to yahoo.
i still to this day cant sync up with outlook.
ultimately i can restore my iphone but when i do this it fails to restore my old contacts from backup, it crashs with some error.
no prob i just tell ti to sync to my yahoo contacts which i keep updated...but when i sync up to yahoo it pulls over all the contacts from my iphone onto yahoo which i dont want to do.
in itunes there is no option to tell it to only sync one way, it does it both ways and no option to remove contacts.


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- 1.25 HP Motor
- Walking Treadmill
- Mp3 Player
- Compact Design
- Walking Treadmill
- Mp3 Player
- Compact Design
- 50cm Wide Running Deck
- 2.5HP Continuous Duty Motor
- Cushion Decking
- Fold Up Design
- 2.5HP Continuous Duty Motor
- Cushion Decking
- Fold Up Design
- Huge 52cm wide Orthopaedic Mat
- Maximum Speed of 22km per hour.
- Electronic Incline
- 150kg Maximum User Capacity
- Maximum Speed of 22km per hour.
- Electronic Incline
- 150kg Maximum User Capacity
Hi Steve,
Thank you very much for the great service. The Cross Trainer was del
Wow! Thank you so much for your support and persistence in reaching this outcome Steve.
Hey Steve,
Just letting you know that the treadmill is all set up an had a few uses. Real
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Customer reviews
Fitquip TM255 TreadmillView product
Average rating: 5
Hi Steve, the treadmill is going very nicely in our apartment complex we are all very happy with it. Thanks
By Jane on Feb 14, 2014
Spirit XE395 Cross TrainerView product
Average rating: 3.7
Action Spares advised that it looks like the tension motor had gone. After 4 attempts of the technician coming to my place and wrong parts ordered twice, needless to say I was completely over it and so disappointed in my purchase.
By Debbie on Dec 18, 2012
York Fitness R510 Rowing MachineView product
Average rating: 4.1
I am very impressed with the service. Easy transaction, fantastic delivery.
By Great Product on Aug 14, 2012


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Sale $10.15
Regular $28.99
Learn more.
Float like a butterfly with this mirrored wall sticker. In silver tone.
Product Features:
- Butterfly graphic lends high-flying style.
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- Peel-and-stick design makes application easy.
- Adhesive backing won't lose strength or leave residue.
Product Details:
- 11.75"H x 10"W
- Vinyl
- Wipe clean
- By RoomMates
- Model no. MIR0002BTL
Promotional offers available online at Kohls.com may vary from those offered in Kohl's stores.


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Book your room at Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village
Please enter your travel dates.
Traditional Room, 1 King Bed
- 1 king
Room, 1 King Bed, City View
- 1 king
Traditional Double Room
- 2 double
Deluxe Room
- 1 king
Modern, smoke-free hotel 2 blocks from trendy SoHo
NYU and SoHo
On the west side of downtown Manhattan, this hotel is 2 blocks from trendy SoHo, Greenwich Village and New York University. Little Italy and Chinatown are about a mile away and Times Square is 2.5 miles north.
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Complimentary wireless Internet access is available in public areas. A restaurant/lounge offers patio dining, weather permitting. A modern fitness center and a 24-hour living-room-style business center are also on site.
42-inch LCD TVs
Guestrooms at this New York hotel feature 42-inch LCD TVs, complimentary wireless Internet access, coffee/tea makers, and Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Beds. The entire hotel is smoke-free.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village
- At your hotel
This Manhattan hotel is 2 blocks from the trendy neighbourhood of SoHo and the Houston Street subway stop. The Hudson River is 4 blocks west. City Hall and the World Financial Center are both about 1.5 miles away.
Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village is entirely smoke-free. An on-site restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. Room service is available. During the summer, guests can dine outside on the sidewalk patio, ideal for people-watching. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel. Other highlights include a state-of-the-art fitness center and a 24-hour living-room-style business center.
- 24-hour front desk
- Air-conditioned public areas
- Total number of rooms - 150
- Number of floors - 21
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Coffee shop or café
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
- Concierge services
- Elevator/lift
- Event catering
- Express check-out
- Fitness facilities
- Internet point
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free Wi-Fi
- Express check-in
- Luggage storage
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- One meeting/conference room
- Parking nearby (surcharge)
- ATM/banking
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Multilingual staff
- Parking nearby
- Restaurant
- Room service (limited hours)
- Meeting facilities size (feet) - 548
- Meeting facilities size (meters) - 51
- Offsite parking discounted rates available
- Year Built 2008
- Street parking (metered)
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Tour assistance
- Wedding services
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- 24-hour business center
- Stay connected
Available in all rooms: Free Wi-Fi, Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free Wi-Fi, Free wired high-speed Internet
- Park your car
Street parking (metered), Parking nearby, Parking nearby (surcharge), Offsite parking discounted rates available
- In your room
- Pay movies
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Complimentary bottled water
- Complimentary weekday newspaper
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Free local calls
- Premium TV channels
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Extra towels/bedding
- Complimentary toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Cable TV service
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Free Wi-Fi
- Climate control
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Pillowtop mattress
- In-room safe
- iPod docking station
- Eat and drink
San Marino at SoHo - Casual Italian restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Al fresco seasonal dining is available on the sidewalk patio.
A full breakfast (surcharge) is served every day from 6:30 AM until 11 AM in San Marino at SoHo. Room service is available.
- Play
- Golf - driving range nearby
- Golfing nearby
- Golf - miniature nearby
- Ice skating nearby
- Swimming nearby
- Aerobics nearby
- Volleyball nearby
- Tennis nearby
- Running track/path nearby
- Basketball nearby
- Sports center nearby
- Pilates classes/instruction nearby
- Yoga classes/instruction nearby
- Helicopter/airplane tours nearby
- Playground nearby
- Golf lessons available nearby
- Bowling alley nearby
- Accessibility
To make requests for specific accessibility needs, complete the "Special or Accessibility Requests" section of "Trip Preferences" when you book your hotel.
- Accessibility equipment for the deaf
- Accessible bathroom
- Accessible path of travel
- Braille or raised signage
- Accessible parking
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
The Fine Print for Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village
- When you arrive
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
- When you leave
Check-out time is noon
- How you can pay
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard
- You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Valet parking fee: USD 55.00 per day
- Late check-out fee: USD 100.00
- Breakage deposit: USD 350.00 per stay (for stays between 1 January - 31 December)
- Refrigerator fee: USD 20.00 per stay
- Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.00 per night


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Bones Are Forever
A Novel
A woman calling herself Amy Roberts checks into a Montreal hospital complaining of uncontrolled bleeding. Doctors see evidence of a recent birth, but before they can act, Roberts disappears. Dispatched to the address she gave at the hospital, police discover bloody towels outside in a Dumpster. Fearing the worst, they call Temperance Brennan to investigate.
In a run-down apartment Tempe makes a ghastly discovery: the decomposing bodies of three infants. According to the landlord, a woman named Alma Rogers lives there. Then a man shows up looking for Alva Rodriguez. Are Amy Roberts, Alma Rogers, and Alva Rodriguez the same person? Did she kill her own babies? And where is she now?
Heading up the investigation is Tempe's old flame, homicide detective Andrew Ryan. His counterpart from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is sergeant Ollie Hasty, who happens to have a little history with Tempe himself, which she regrets. This unlikely trio follows the woman's trail, first to Edmonton and then to Yellowknife, a remote diamond-mining city deep in the Northwest Territories. What they find in Yellowknife is more sinister than they ever could have imagined.
Crackling with sexual tension, whip-smart dialogue, and the startling plot twists Reichs delivers so well, Bones Are Forever is the fifteenth thrilling novel in Reichs's "cleverly plotted and expertly maintained series" (The New York Times Book Review). With the FOX series Bones in its eighth season and her popularity at its broadest ever, Kathy Reichs has reached new heights in suspenseful storytelling.
Choose a format:
Book Details:
- Scribner |
- 304 pages |
- August 2012
Buy from another retailer:
Kathy Reichs and Linda Emond on BONES ARE FOREVER Part 2
Read an Excerpt
THE BABY'S EYES STARTLED ME. SO ROUND AND WHITE AND pulsing with movement.
Like the tiny mouth and nasal openings.
Ignoring the maggot masses, I inserted gloved fingers beneath the small torso and gently lifted one shoulder. The baby rose, chin and limbs tucked tight to its chest.
Flies scattered in a whine of protest.
My mind took in details. Delicate eyebrows, almost invisible on a face barely recognizable as human. Bloated belly. Translucent skin peeling from perfect little fingers. Green-brown liquid pooled below the head and buttocks.
The baby was inside a bathroom vanity, wedged... see more
Hear an Excerpt
To download a file to your computer right-click on the link and choose 'save file as'
High Resolution Images
Book Cover Image (jpg): Bones Are Forever
Hardcover 9781439102435(1.4 MB)
Author Photo (jpg): Kathy Reichs
Photograph by Ben Mark Holzberg(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit


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Slip-on & off cup holster for smaller thirst quenchers!
handle screws kit/cup holder lug kit
kr 19,00
universal food tray
kr 119,00
vibe & verve food tray
kr 60,00
lobster portable high chair
kr 649,00
wriggle wrapper
The stroller cup holder is HOT! because:
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